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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
25 Sep 2024
Reply rate
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Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
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Description
Hello everbody!
Coming to my organic tannery in Austria. is a natural and primal experience.
As far as I know, I am the last of my kind in Austria, that only uses bark and water to extract tannin, that tans hides into leather. I only use bark from european trees like oak, willow or spruce for this. Naturally this means, that I don’t use any chemical, synthetics, poison or chrom-salts at all. Instead my ingredients, apart from water, are lime, vinegar, bark and oil, and nothing else.
Many of my hides are saved from going directly to the waste bin, as so many hides today are just thrown away.
A tanning cycle lasts about 4-6 weeks, that’s why I recommend you to stay that long.
What you tan by hand aside from my batch, is yours, and you may take it home.
Just to make things clear - I am a one-man-band and you do not replace a paid worker.
It is a pure and straight volunteer experience.
Please mail me
I am looking forward to meet you
Alex
UPDATE: I have a professional pelt sewing machine now
UPDATE: I have professional equipment for shoemakers now
UPDATE: I have a professional leather sewing machine now
UPDATE: As one of my workawayers didn't like the silence here - I live in a village
with no pub, shop or any entertainment, all we have is a forrest
UPDATE: Coming here also means to help my wife in the garden, cut fire wood etc., not only in the tannery
UPDATE: I made my first pelts from sheep
UPDATE: I made Horse, Catfish and Sturgeon Leather
UPDATE: I am looking for mechanics, welders and carpenters helping me repair some machines in the workshop,
and for tailors to sew stuff from my leather, aka leatherworkers, leather craftsmen, leather fashion designers, shoemakers, leather tailors, saddlers, Sattler, Schuster, Schuhmacher, Lederschneider, Taschner, Galanteristen, Kürschner
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Tan your own leather by hand, learn something about herbs
Help
If you help me you will learn:
- how to tan by hand, so that you can continue tanning back home too
- how to dehair, flesh, tan, soften hides to make leather
- how to tan with normal machines available everywhere (e.g. washing machines)
- how real tannery machines work (the main work you will help me with)
- see products made of rawhide and/or leather like drums, jackets, shoes, trousers, rucksack, purses and many others
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Italian: Beginner
Accommodation
You have your own space in a separate house on the farm, your own sleeping room, bathroom, toilet and kitchen. You will be fully provided with food, and I usually cook once a day. I want you to cook too, though, or help if you can't cook.
What else ...
We live next to a forrest with alot of local plants. Next town is 10km away. Usual work time is about 5 hours a day, every 4th-5th day is free.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Wifi and separate house/rooms
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (14)
I guess around 3 months or so.
The place is unique in many ways. I had the opportunity to learn about a rare craft.
Alex and Ricki are very generous and social hosts. The volunteers have a own house and there is always plenty food available.
During my stay I was often… read more
Alex teaches you organic tanning step by step. And you'll get the chance to make your own leather. He is a good teacher and grateful when you get involved with work and… read more
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.8)
I guess around 3 months or so.
The place is unique in many ways. I had the opportunity to learn about a rare craft.
Alex and Ricki are very generous and social hosts. The volunteers have a own house and there is always plenty food available.
During my stay I was often… read more
Alex teaches you organic tanning step by step. And you'll get the chance to make your own leather. He is a good teacher and grateful when you get involved with work and… read more
To start off with, the had their work cut out because of my north Donegal accent, but amazingly we got there,
Now how to explain or express my workaway experience
This is something I truly have struggled with, as no matter… read more
So I stayed with Alex and Rikki back in April for 5 weeks. It was a really amazing experience. I found Alex and his profile on Workaway as I was seeking to learn about the tanning process and I cannot express how much I learnt. Alex is so keen to teach people this process and because I was particularly… read more
We had a very enjoyable stay with you guys. Aside from learning how to tan leather we had lovely meals together and fun times with your family and friends.
This was a very, very educational workaway experience, we learned so much (more than at any other workaway before!!). We can, without hesitation, say that we are now able… read more
Alex and Ricky (is wife) are really nice people, their place is a very comfy one. You wil even have a house for yourself !
If… read more
I Learnt every part of the leather making process, got to keep 3 hides that we worked on from the start of our stay. The work is not overly physical, but is extremely interesting and demands love and attention. After a few days you'll catch the leather making bug too. Alex has a huge range of knowledge on leather as well as… read more
Alex has an incredible wealth of knowledge about leather tanning and willingly shared it all with us so that we could take the knowledge home and continue this amazing skill. We learned the whole process from start to finish using both professional equipment and everyday… read more
Thanks to Ricki and Alex (Mum and Dad) for the amazing hospitality and memories.
You will feel at home straight away as they constantly go above and beyond to make your stay as brilliant as can be.
I have learnt many new skills i never thought i would get the chance to experience, from… read more
